Kuzma Posted Back-To-Back 32-Point Games For Lakers

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors drives on Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 130-111 Warriors win at Staples Center on January 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kyle Kuzma continues to be relied on to carry the torch while LeBron James is out with an injury. The former Ute had back-to-back games where he scored 32 points.

Damian Lillard led the Blazers in scoring in all four games during the week, scoring 24 points or more in all four contests.

Here’s how the locals did during Week 14 of the NBA season from Wednesday, January 16 to Tuesday, January 22:

Former Utes

Kyle Kuzma – Los Angeles Lakers (25-23)

The Lakers went 1-2 during the week and LeBron James is still out with a groin injury. Kyle Kuzma had back-to-back games where he scored 32 points. The first was an overtime win at Oklahoma City where he had 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. He shot 7-of-12 from the three-point line. The second game was in their 4-point loss to the Houston Rockets. Kuzma added 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals on 12-of-19 shooting from the field.

He finished the week with 16 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in their 19-point home loss to the Golden State Warriors.

This season, Kuzma is averaging 19.3 points and 6 rebounds per game.

NEXT UP: The Lakers have three games during Week 15 with all three at home. They will host the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers.

It was a decent week for the Spurs with a 2-1 record. Jakob Poeltl’s minutes dipped in two of the three games. The former Ute had six points, a team-high seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in in 20 minutes as the Spurs beat Dallas.

Poeltl finished with four points and one rebound in 12 minutes in their win over Minnesota.

In the Spurs’ loss to the Clippers, Poeltl had with two points, four rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes of action.

Poeltl is averaging 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds this season.

NEXT UP: The Spurs will play four games during Week 15, beginning at Philadelphia and New Orleans before hosting Washington and Phoenix.

Former Wildcats

Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers (29-20)

The Trail Blazers went 3-1 during Week 13. Damian Lillard led the team in scoring in all four games. He started the week with 33 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists in the Blazers’ 17-point win over Cleveland.

Lillard poured in 24 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in the Blazers’ win over the Pelicans.

He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on 10-for-20 shooting from the field in his return to Utah as the Blazers beat the Jazz by 5.

Lillard finished the week with 34 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals in their 9-point road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The former Wildcat is averaging 26.3 points, 6.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season.

NEXT UP: Portland will play just two games during Week 15, starting at Phoenix before hosting Atlanta.

Former High School Standouts

The Pelicans went 1-2 during the week. The former Lone Peak star, Frank Jackson had one rebound in just five minutes in their seven-point loss to the Warriors.

Jackson’s minutes stayed consistent moving forward with two points, two rebounds, one assists and one steals in 12 minutes in the Pelicans’ loss to the Trail Blazers.

He finished the week with three points, four rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes as New Orleans beat Memphis by 20 points.

Jackson is averaging 4.8 points and 1 rebound per game this season.

NEXT UP: The Pelicans will play four games during Week 15, beginning at home against Detroit. They will travel to Oklahoma City before returning home against San Antonio. The Pelicans will end the week at Houston.